New Delhi, Jan 5 (NationPress) In his address marking the commencement of the Assembly's Winter Session on Monday, Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena not only spotlighted the achievements of the Delhi government in its inaugural 10 months but also delivered a harsh evaluation of the previous AAP administration under Arvind Kejriwal, criticizing the pervasive “inertia and negativity” that characterized governance.

The LG stated, “The foremost challenge before my government has been to overcome the inertia and negativity that had pervaded governance and administration for years.”

While refraining from directly naming Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi, Saxena expressed his dissatisfaction regarding the governance deficits that plagued the city in recent years.

He emphasized the Delhi Government's historic Rs 1 lakh crore Budget for 2025-26, noting that in less than a year, the government has made substantial advancements across 10 priority sectors, including Infrastructure, Education, Health, Women's Welfare, Water Supply, Electricity, Roads, Industrial Development, Environmental Sustainability, and Social Justice.

Saxena's address also underscored initiatives in e-governance, legal simplification, the introduction of e-buses, health infrastructure, and insurance, while acknowledging pollution-related challenges.

“Many challenges still remain to be addressed. The government is confronting all these challenges with unwavering resolve, commitment, and transparency, moving forward with the conviction that through collective effort, these obstacles can be transformed into opportunities,” he asserted.

The LG commended the government's transparent governance initiatives, stating, “Under the Ease of Doing Business framework, the Government has simplified business processes, reduced unnecessary regulatory hurdles, and undertaken policy reforms across various sectors to attract Investment. In which, reforms related to licensing and labour regulations are important,” he remarked.

For enhanced service delivery and transparency, 75 e-District services across multiple departments have been successfully integrated with Citizen Service Centres (CSCs) through e-governance, he noted.

He highlighted amendments to the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, mentioning that procedures for acquiring fire safety certificates, changing land use, factory licenses, and trade licenses have been streamlined.

“By consolidating 29 existing Labour Laws into four comprehensive Labour Codes, the Government has made a significant stride in coordination with the Central Government,” he mentioned.

He continued, “These Labour Codes not only reduce the complexity of laws but also make concrete efforts towards providing social security, better working conditions, and timely justice to workers. I commend the Government led by the Chief Minister for implementing these wide-ranging reforms within a very short period,” stated LG Saxena.

The implementation of the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana was highlighted as a key achievement by the LG.

“To date, 6,72,551 Ayushman Cards have been issued, including 2,62,383 Vay Vandana Yojna Cards for senior citizens over 70 years. Under this scheme, 188 hospitals in Delhi—137 private and 51 government—have been empanelled, resulting in 19,287 patients receiving successful treatment so far,” he reported.

Additionally, under the PM-ABHIM scheme, 238 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are becoming operational, thereby strengthening primary healthcare services and alleviating pressure on tertiary hospitals, he added.

To ensure the availability of affordable medicines, 29 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are operating, and efforts are underway to establish 11 Integrated Public Health Laboratories and nine Critical Care Blocks, he noted.

Addressing the pollution issue, the LG remarked, “Air pollution is one of the most serious challenges facing our city today. Clean air is not a privilege, but a fundamental right of every citizen.”

“My Government is fully committed to pollution control. Instead of limiting itself, as in previous years, to only seasonal measures, the Government launched a comprehensive, year-round, and time-bound Air Pollution Mitigation Plan in June 2025,”

he stated.

He outlined measures taken to tackle vehicular pollution, construction and demolition dust, road dust, industrial pollution, and afforestation efforts, emphasizing, “Clean air is a shared responsibility. The Government's efforts can succeed only with the active cooperation of citizens.”

Encouraging public participation, he said initiatives for public awareness are continuously being reinforced through schools, RWAs, and community organizations.

Alongside the commitment to transforming Delhi into a green city, he announced a target to plant approximately 35 lakh trees and 63 lakh shrubs over the next four years.

The Assembly session is poised for intense debates on pressing issues like air pollution, environmental concerns, and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports linked to the 'Sheesh Mahal' and the Delhi Jal Board.

The Winter Session of the Eighth Legislative Assembly is set to continue until January 8. This session will see Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also heads the finance department, presenting her second Delhi Budget, while also likely to witness disputes over the tabling of CAG reports regarding the financial lapses of the Kejriwal government.